Chapter 2

I got the answer I’d anticipated.

For the first time, I hung up on him.

I wasn’t panicked or anxious.

My heart was calm, like still water.

I looked at the remains of the cake on the table.

The ice cream had melted with time.

Just like I thought my relationship with Anderson was indestructible—but in reality, it had faded and dissolved over time.

I put down my phone and continued packing.

The next afternoon, Anderson came back.

There was a hint of guilt in his eyes when he looked at me.

His attitude softened.

“I’m sorry, I forgot it was your birthday yesterday. You mentioned before that you wanted a car to commute to work, right? I went and picked one out for you today. Consider it a belated birthday gift.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but he kept talking.

“Good thing Mia reminded me yesterday. Make sure to thank her when you see her. She actually helped pick out the car—she said you’d love it.”

So he hadn’t remembered on his own.

He’d needed someone else to remind him.

And the gift he gave me—was chosen by someone else.

All I could do.

Was say “it’s okay.”

Accept the choices they made for me.

Anderson pulled out his phone to show me photos of the car.

“Look, Mia picked pink. It’s perfect for you girls…”

He swiped through the photos.

But when he got to the second one, my gaze froze.

It was a picture of Mia.

She was sitting in the driver’s seat, sticking out her tongue and giving a peace sign.

Anderson noticed my stare and instinctively explained, “Mia loves taking selfies. Her phone died, so she borrowed mine to take a picture.”

I didn’t say anything. I kept swiping.

His phone had three hundred and twenty-three photos total.

One hundred and twenty were of Mia.

The other three were pictures of the car.

Seeing that, I suddenly remembered.

Anderson didn’t like taking pictures.

He also didn’t like having unnecessary stuff on his phone.

We had zero photos together.

His phone didn’t even have my contact info saved.

As if I’d never existed in his life.

I’d asked him once why he didn’t save my number.

He’d said, “Your number is burned into my memory. I can recite it in my sleep. No point in saving it.”

But Mia was saved in his phone.

With the note: “Happy Little Pig.”

Whether in his contacts or on social media, she was the only one pinned to the top.

I scrolled silently. Anderson didn’t stop me.

He raised an eyebrow and laughed. “Checking up on me? Alright, go ahead—see if I’ve been texting any other women…”

Before he could finish, the contact named “Happy Little Pig” sent a message.

“Anderson! Don’t be biased! You’ve become a selfish jerk! Laura gets a car, and I want one too! Get me one ASAP!”

After reading that, I lost all interest.

I handed the phone back.

Anderson didn’t say anything. He took it.

I got up and left the couch, glancing over.

He replied, “The company’s funds are tight right now. I’ll owe you one car.”

Mia didn’t accept that. She sent ninety-nine rolling-on-the-floor emojis.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Anderson’s eyes.

He looked up at me. “Laura, your company isn’t that far from our apartment. How about we give this car to Mia first, and I’ll buy you another one later?”